The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, is now rated at 70 percent from March 26, 2009 to February 10, 2011. The effective date for this rating is set as of March 26, 2009.
The deciding factor: The Veteran submitted a statement seeking an increased rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder on March 26, 2009, which was then evaluated at 50 percent. New VA treatment records received within one year of the November 21, 2009 rating decision were constructively before the VA and related to the Veteran's claim.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, depressed type
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24031959
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 793 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 24031959.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound, as his service-connected disabilities did not render him permanently bedridden or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied. The cause of death claim is remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a procedural issue regarding the earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran submitted a timely notice of disagreement, but the Regional Office did not properly address this in their decision and should have issued an SOC.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected perirectal abscess, standing alone, prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. Additionally, he had a 70% disabling schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, which is considered an independent disability for the purposes of TDIU and housebound rate special monthly compensation. The Board granted both TDIU and housebound rate special monthly compensation.
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